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The UK risks missing its 2035 climate change target by a “huge margin” because only a fifth of the emissions cuts needed are being addressed by effective government policies, the country’s top climate advisers warn.
“We are very concerned about where things stand [on action to cut emissions],”says Chris Stark of the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), an independent public body that advises the UK government.
In its Progress in Reducing Emissions report to parliament, which is published today, the group says key policies and strategies on everything from decarbonising heating to future North Sea oil production have been delayed. Taken together, the CCC says credible policies are lacking for four-fifths of the emissions reductions needed to reach the legally binding goal of a 78 per cent cut on CO2 emissions by 2035.
The Government must rapidly step up action on climate change – or risk undermining “global Britain” and success at key Cop26 talks this year, its advisers have warned.
Policies are urgently needed to make homes cosier and heated with clean heat pumps, ensure new houses are energy-efficient and can cope with heatwaves, drive the shift to electric vehicles, and encourage people to eat less meat.
They are just some of 200 recommendations from the advisory Climate Change Committee, which warns that the Government is not delivering on the ambitious targets it has set to tackle global warming.
Its latest progress reports to Parliament – one on reducing emissions and one on adapting to climate change – show the UK is off track to meet commitments made under the global Paris climate deal to cut emissions by 2030 and legal carbon-cutting targets for the late 2020s and 2030s.
Stiffer taxes on flights to “address price imbalances” with train travel.
Carbon taxes on waste, industry and other sectors.
Public information campaigns to explain to people the changes needed, including the need to cut meat consumption by about a fifth.
150,000 public charge points for electric vehicles by 2025.
Public sector workers should be encouraged to work from home where possible.
Every new government policy should also be subject to a “net zero test” to prove it is compatible with the overarching climate target.
Stark said the changes needed to reach net zero were “not extreme” and would not be disruptive, if they were managed correctly. He said they were not costly, at less than 1% of GDP in the next three decades, which he said was the equivalent in 2050 of reaching the UK’s forecast GDP four months later than would have been expected.
Key actions the Government must take to tackle climate crisis – advisers June 24, 2021, 12:09 am
A shift in diets is needed to free up land for planting trees, the committee says (Peter Byrne/PA)
Rapid action in dozens of areas is needed to ensure the UK tackles the climate crisis, Government advisers warn.
Here are some of their key recommendations.
– Transport: A comprehensive package is needed to support the rollout of electric vehicles, including subsidies or tax breaks to encourage people to buy clean cars, and widespread deployment of charge points.
There also needs to be more support for walking, cycling and public transport, and measures to make it less attractive to drive.
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